THE wet weather failed to put a dampener on spirits on the golf course as sports stars from the region got in the swing for charity.

Leading footballers and figures from other sports, past and present, gave up the day to take part in the annual Steve Harper Celebrity Golf Challenge, at the Ramside Hall Hotel course, at Carrville, near Durham.

The Newcastle United goalkeeper, from east Durham, is a patron of the Clarke Lister Brain Haemorrhage Foundation.

It was set up following the death of ten-year-old Clarke, from Peterlee, east Durham, from a brain haemorrhage in 1996.

Since then, Clarke's mother, Carole, has channelled her grief into raising £1.2m to fund research into what causes brain haemorrhages.

Part of the proceeds will go towards setting up a support network supplying community nurses, counsellors, carers for sufferers and their families.

Among the many fundraising events staged by the foundation, the golf challenge has become an annual fixture for several of the stars involved.

The third challenge featured Harper's Newcastle United team-mates Alan Shearer, fellow striker Shola Ameobi and midfielder Gary Speed, plus several former Magpies, including Terry McDermott, Peter Beardsley, Bobby Moncur, Kenny Wharton, John Anderson, Mick Martin and Joe Allon.

Other sports were represented by professional golfer Graeme Laidlaw, Durham County cricketer Phil Mustard and the county's academy coach John Windows, plus former European and Commonwealth boxing champion Billy Hardy, from Sunderland.

They were among 22 sports stars leading teams of four round the damp course.

Almost inevitably, Shearer's team came in first, closely followed by Beardsley's quartet, with Joe Allon and his three partners third.

Mrs Lister, who estimated the event raised about £7,000 for the foundation, thanked everyone involved.

"It may have been raining but everyone has had a great day.

"Despite the conditions, just about everyone invited was able to get along and we've even got people putting their names down for next year's event."

She paid particular tribute to Job Link County Durham for sponsoring the trophies, compere Terry Joyce and the many volunteer helpers.